Improvement in combined ladder and trestle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. MIKEAL. Combined Ladder and Trestle. No. 215,234. Patented May 13,1879.

WITNESSES. nwzwoi.

NPETE-RS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPRER. WAEHXNGTQN' D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. MIKEAL. Combined Ladder and Trestle.

Patented May 13, i879.

INVENTOR.

' WITNESSES.

N. FEIERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. u c.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MIKEAL, OF PLAINFIELD, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED LADDER AND TRESTLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,234,'dated May 13,1 7 pp i filed.

March 24, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MIKEAL, of the town of Plainfield, county ofHendricks, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Ladder and Trestle, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichare made part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicatesimilar parts.

Figure l is a plan or front elevation of my device when in the form of aladder, all the parts not necessary in this use being removed. Fig. 2 isa top or plan view thereof when in the form of a trestle or scafiolding. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation, of thedevice in the same form as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevationof one of the joints when the device is in the form of a ladder. Fig. 6is a similar view to Fig. 5, except that it is shown in section.

In said drawings those portions marked A are the rails or beams of theladder or trestle, which are each made of at least three pieces, withtwo joints, which allow the end pieces to swing into position as thelegs of the trestle, when the device is used in this form, while thecentral part forms the top of such trestle. If it is desired to increasethe length or height of the device, other pieces may be added, whichshould be connected to the ends of the rails A with rigid or stiffenedjoints.

B B are the ladder-rungs, which are made and inserted in the ordinary orany approved manner. 0 G are rods or bolts which form the hinge-pivotsfor the joints in the device, and may also serve as two of theladder-rungs if the ordinary rungs are in the proper relative positionthereto. D D are the joints, composed of the metal pieces d d which,when connected by the pivot-rods O or their equivalents, form thehinges. They are so formed that at one side they will come squarelytogether when the rails A A are straight, while the formation of theother side permits the rails to come to the position best shown in Fig.3.

In order to make the joints D rigid when the device is used as a ladder,blocks E, made to fit into the open space on the under side of saidjoint, are pivoted to the rails by pivots e,

in the proper position to accomplish this object. When in use, as shownin Figs. 5and6. they are secured by the button E. These blocks make thejoints practically rigid, and the ladder is made as steady and secure asthough the rails were continuous instead of in pieces. When not in use(as when the device is used as a trestle) the blocks E hang loosely upontheir pivots, as shown in Fig. 3.

F F are braces, which, when the device is in the form of a trestle, holdit firmly in that position, as best shown in Fig. 3. G G are props orstays, which serve to prevent the device from tipping or jostling whenused as a trestle. H is a removable device, formed of a beam, h and twoor more bars, h b and which rests against the wall when the trestle isused in painting or other work upon the inside or outside of a building.Presenting a continuous front, it is not so liable to bruise or mar thewall as the bars would be if used without the beam. When this device His used the stays G G are usually all turned in one direction, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

There may be bolted to the rails A A bars I I, from which project pins 6*5, upon which a plank, J, shall rest, thus forming a staging. Severalsets of these pins may be employed,at suitable distances from eachother, and the plank can be changed from one to another, thus bringingwithin the convenient reach. of the user a largely-increased area ofwall-surface.

For the convenience of the user, as a handy place to deposit tools,paints, &c., I have constructed the settee-like device K in such a formthat it may conveniently be attached to one of the top rails of thetrestle. The standards thereto, 70 k, are preferably formed of flat barsof metal, and are simply bent into the required form. The back K is madewide, and a large part thereof is so constructed that it may be removedand used as a flooring for the trestle.

To facilitate the moving of the trestle from one place to another whenused inside of a building, I place trucks or casters under the legs, butpreferably remove them before again putting it in use. No casters,however, are shown in the drawings.

When the device is to be used as a ladder, the parts F, G, H, I, J, andK are removed.

When it is used as a trestle-they are employed in whole or in part, asmay be necessary or convenient, and are attached as shown, and fulfillthe uses specified.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1, The combination, with thehinge-joint D, of the part E, constructed to fit into the space betweenthe two parts of said joint on the under side, when the rails arestraight, and hold said joint rigid, substantially as shown andspecified.

2. In combination with thetrestle, the setteelike device K, havingstandards k k, constructed THOMAS MIKEAL.

in presence ofw (J. BRADFORD,

CHARLES W. WARREN.

